A Reel Problem (and other bad jokes)

I had two problems at the start of today and now they are SOLVED.

So today was Mission: Demo Reel for me. Plugging in archived drives, exporting high-res versions of projects to use, sorting everything into the project bin, scouting for music to use, etc.

My main problem…well there were two really:

1. The downside of working on features is you have to wait until they are distributed before the producer gives you the OK to use the material publicly. Most of the features I've worked on the last 2 years are still awaiting release, so I can't show them.
2. Most of my credits are horror, some are comedy. So do I make a show reel of both? Or focus on horror (which has the strongest of my work)? Don't want to pigeonhole myself as a horror editor, but it is where most of my work is visually the best quality.

And if I make separate reels I start down the slippery slope of making a different reel for each genre, format, flavour…and I don't really like the idea of having many separate reels in the first place.

So my solution to both? One show reel that highlights all of my recent work WITH a call-to-action at the end to ask me about my PRIVATE REEL that will include material that I cannot show publicly just yet.

What do you think? Would you find a different way to represent your work? How do you decide on the style of your reel?

P.S. Did I mention I really, really hate making reels?

These are the Networking Tools of an Editor : Cmd+Edit 009

They are the holy trinity of networking tools for any post-production minion: the business card, the demo reel and the CV.

There are those who swear by them and label them as must-haves. Others think differently and choose to not use them at all. Which camp are you in?

Every editor means to get around to updating his/her CV or reel but it seems to only become a priority when you receive an email from a producer asking for them before they can hire you.

Nick and Josh discuss the benefits to using each to score your next job, and how you can use them more efficiently. Plus we explain why and when we don't bother using them at all.

Does the concept of an editing demo reel even make sense?

Are business cards a good investment or is there a better way to give your info that costs you less?

Should you create a CV or is it okay to just link to your IMDB page?

Follow us on Twitter and tweet us if you use any of these tools to nail down jobs.